After hearing what this author did to other authors on Goodreads, I will not be reading or recommending to anyone.

I was barely stating this book I was at 15% and so far what I had read I had like the world and the plot seem interesting. But then yesterday my tiktok feed and instagram story was full or videos talking about this author’s behavior.

Due to the allegations that recently have been circulating around all social media, about her sabotaging other authors by creating fake accounts and rating other books low, I will not be reviewing or rating this book. Even if I wanted to goodreads is not letting any reviews or ratings been posted on this book.

It’s a pity why would someone sabotage themselves is beyond me this book was really doing pretty good. By itself. There was not need to do certain allegations.

I was excited to read this, but after the author's current review drama that has a lot of racist overtones is something that can't be ignored, and I don't want to give this book a platform or support this behavior.

All that aside, I don't feel like I can give a review without reading a book so I did (since I didn't monetarily support her or her actions). I read a large portion of this and I just can't get into it. The writing feels a bit too young adult than what I was expecting, there is not enough worldbuilding to really pull me in, the main character is naive bordering on holier than thou, and the story just didn't have the overall tone I was hoping for. I read some other reviews that said it picks up at the 50% and again in the last 60 or so pages and that is just too much to commit to in the hopes it improves.

I hope that there are more Greek sci-fi-esque retellings, especially with Dionysus (a personal favorite god), but I even without all the drama I don't know that this would have been it. All of it is just disappointing.

I will not be reviewing or recommending this book to anyone due to recent allegation made that the author has been purposely rating upcoming debut authors works with low ratings while simultaneously rating her own book higher on fake accounts. A 31 page google document is pretty DAMNING!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1__mO1uqIqcmupBAPKwXDzlUbZIwtY6fKf0S1Y0SNz0E/edit

Unless the author or publisher comes out and address the matter at hand and action is taken, I will not be reading or discussing this book!

I will not be promoting or reading this book due to the reported unethical and unacceptable actions taken by the author to undermine the reviews of other debut authors. Faking reviews to bomb author ratings and even more horrifically posing as POCs doing so is unacceptable and wrong.

1 star only because I’m not allowed zero.

I'm not going to support this book due to the review bombing of other debut authors that this author has participated in.

This was a book I was so excited for. When it was dropped in my kindle I squealed out loud. I finished reading it and went to go start writing my review but the realized that this is the author everyone is talking about when it came to review bombing other debut authors. I want to thank Random House and del Rey for allowing me this opportunity.

I will not be reviewing this book on my social media accounts (Goodreads or Instagram), due to the author's recent "review bombing" toward other 2024 debut authors. I appreciate the ARC copy provided to me, but I don't want to platform that kind of behavior.

I was extremely excited for this book, and thought that it was a promising debut (though it fell a little short of my hopes), so the author's behavior is especially disappointing to me. There was a lot in here that I liked; fun and interesting worldbuilding, a cool take on retelling a Greek myth, and a lot of humor. The book was very readable and pacy, and I was very engaged and didn't want to put it down. I loved genderfluid, queer Dionysus and bisexual Ariadne; I thought the romance was largely very compelling.

On the other hand, I felt like the pacing was a bit lopsided, especially with the action at the end, and I wanted a little more from the characters outside of the main couple; the side characters sometimes felt flat. There were also places where I felt the writing could have used a little more development, especially in tone.

But for a debut especially, none of these downsides were deal-breakers for me, and I was ready to give this a solid 3.5-rounded-up rating, and to look forward to the next book in the duology ... the author's behavior toward other authors (especially POC debuts!), however, was.

Thanks to Del Rey and Netgalley for the ARC copy; I wish this story had ended better.

In light of recent events, I cannot bring myself to read and review a book by an author who has done some disgusting things. This book was on my highly-expected list until everything was released and I’m just really disappointed. There was nothing but good reviews and positive talk about this book too! It has an Illumicrate special edition in the works (which readers are now trying to get it canceled for good reasons).
I dont know, it’s just very disappointing to see authors stoop low for whatever reasons claimed- stated and those unstated. Xiran Jay Zhao shared a link on twitter/X with receipts to back up most of these statements for anybody wanting to see proof.

Couldn’t have been more excited to receive this arc and now I’m just left with disappointment. I hope some statements will be made soon or some sort of apology towards the poc authors that were main targets of the low-star review bombing…

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I went into this a bit blind, but was intrigued by the blurb and the cover.
This story had a huge info dump within the first couple of chapters and honestly, I struggled to get through it. I almost DNF'd just because there was too much information and it was hard to connect with the characters.
Overall, throughout the book it felt like there was a lot of details that was just there to give the book a higher word count and didn't play into the bigger part of the story.

I wasn't rooting for the 2 main characters and found their romance to be a bit boring. I just really didn't connect with the book.

While this might have been a book I loved (queer space opera--yay!), I am unable to recommend or promote it due to the author's horrendous behavior in review bombing her fellow debuts. I want to emphasize, however, that my negative feelings towards this book are only because of this specific author's actions souring my previous enthusiasm (of which there was much!) beyond repair. Please do continue to publish books like this, but not by Cait Corrain.

I was enjoying this book but will now be DNFing it due to the allegations around the author creating fake Goodreads accounts to review bomb other debut authors and POC authors. This is very disappointing because I think the book had potential, but I will not support this authors alleged behavior.

I like the mythology part of this book. It had so much potential. The cover is absolutely gorgeous. I did hear of a scandal after I read this. Something about up-voting her own book or something. I'm not entirely sure. But my review is solely on the book it's self.

And to think I was so excited to get this book...

The author's been review bombing fellow debut authors on Goodreads. Why? What's the point? I can't stand by this behavior. (Can't stand by anyone leaving one-star fake reviews on some of my favorite books.)

Leaving this on the dnf shelf for now.

(There's a review on GR with a link to the receipts. Please check it out.)

Very disappointing, but I will not be reviewing this book because of the racist and despicable behavior of the author.

yeah. i'm gonna have to say 'no' on this one - not after what happened. so. we're gonna pass on this and go read something far more interesting.

3.5 I enjoyed this book and this was a very interesting take on Greek mythology, especially because it is set in space. It was extremely different and I was happy it did not follow the Persephone/Hades that it usually does. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this one. The only gripe I had with this book was the pacing of it and the world building. 


Edited (12/7/23): The behavior that the author has displayed to other debut authors is despicable and disgusting. There has been proof and I hope that the publisher or author speaks out on their behavior towards BIPOC authors who will be debuting next year as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I will not be reviewing this book.
Do to the drama behind this author and her actions.
My star rating is accurate for the content of the book.

While I was enjoying the book, I will be DNFing in light of the overwhelming evidence that the author created fake accounts in order to downvote, one-star, and otherwise attempt to sabotage fellow debuts, specifically writers of color. I will not be giving more time to a jealous racist. I hope her publisher considers this when deciding whether to continue to work with her.

I cannot, in good conscience, finish this book. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book and I was 65% of the way in. Prior to finding out about the author allegedly reveiwbombing other authors, specifically those of color, I’ve decided that I won’t be finishing. I wasn’t feeling this book to begin with. The dialogue wasn’t the best and I couldn’t find it in myself to care about Ariadne. I’m just really disappointed by the way white queers weaponize their queerness to hurt other marginalized people. You should not project your insecurities onto authors. If you are worried about your book not doing good then you can always work hard and write harder. All those other authors put blood, sweat, and tears into the work. If it’s a skill issue, just practice. That’s really all it is. There’s no magic, there’s no cheat code. There’s only working harder to be a better author.